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Topic Review (Newest First)

12-16-2007 02:25 PM

PBzeer

Oh sure, make me go back and look up what I said :P

12-16-2007 02:20 PM

sailhog

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Hawg ? What WAS the problem? (Or did I miss it in the preceding silliness?)

John,
Let's just say that you were right, and leave it at that... Very humiliating experience for Mr. Hog.

12-16-2007 12:29 PM

thekeip

If you're using the word 'combiner' in a generic sense, I'm all for it. But if you mean combiner, as in relay, then I'm not sold. I do a lot of battery system installations and, if left to my own devices (no pun), I shy away from relays or any 'automatic' mechanical gadgets. They seem to sell well however, in spite of a fairly poor history, and that statement blankets all brands.
Related to that, I was surprised, though I shouldn't have been, I guess, to read that Xantrex cautions about the AC transfer relay used in their inverters could be subject to contacts welding.
I admit to being somewhat gun-shy as re relays, but it comes from memories of running out to my car at 3 am to rap the relay box to silence the horn.
Howard Keiper
Sea Quest
Berkeley

12-16-2007 10:33 AM

PBzeer

Hawg ? What WAS the problem? (Or did I miss it in the preceding silliness?)

12-16-2007 10:18 AM

sailhog

Harh and Gavin,
Thanks for the help... I've solved the problem, but Harh's suggestion about the battery combiner is a very interesting one. I'll put Casey's book on my Christmas list.
Thanks to everyone,
Sailhog

12-16-2007 08:47 AM

gavinandrebecca

Hi Guys
have you sorted the voltage drop? cause it could be a "hot" joint somewhere. if you can monitor your V while everything is off, then see if V drop dramatically when you switch on, start at the isolating switch.
And switch to LED lights for power saving like thesehttp://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm
can also suggest if you have a tong meter you could check how much your current draw is.
Let us know how you go
cheers
gavin

12-15-2007 07:51 PM

HARH

Get a copy of Don Casey's book " Sailboat Electrics Simplified". It's excellent.
On page 120 "A better way" he advises dumping the old "off,1,2,both" switch for a 3 switch system with a battery combiner. This is a foolproof way to manage the electrical system on your boat. The one change he recently made is to connect the alternator to the START battery and NOT to the house bank as stated in the book. This is due to updated thinking.
The batteries are automatically combined whenever the alternator is charging (engine running) and isolated when there is no charge (engine off). All you have to do is turn the two battery switches "on" before starting the engine and "off" when leaving (locking up) the boat for some time. Simple.
In your case if you can start the engine O.K. but have no power the the systems then there is a problem to the "house" side of your circuit and not to the "start" circuit. So start checking for loose, corroded or damaged wires/connections. Don't forget to check for bad "grounds" as well.

Hope this helps -- if you haven't fixed already.
H.

12-06-2007 01:43 PM

sailingdog

Have fun...just don't drop a wrench across the bus bars... bad things can happen when you do that...

12-06-2007 01:40 PM

bestfriend

Pun accepted. Its always fun buying new things for the boat, break out another thousand! No troubleshooting, at least not until I put all the new stuff in and entirely screw it up.

12-06-2007 01:34 PM

sailingdog

BF-

No charge*... have fun...

* pun intended...

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